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Norm Yodgee

Contents - Nov 2006 - Buy a copy now Editorial: EWTN and the secular media: fighting fire with fire Education: The Spirit of Generation Y: the challenge for Catholic schools - Cardinal George Pell Living the Faith: What distinguishes a practising Catholic? - Bishop Luc Matthys News: The Church Around the World England: British Catholicism's dark night of the soul Books: Is the Catholic Church in Australia 'lost'? - Michael Gilchrist Brisbane Archdiocese: inclusive language in the liturgy continues - Michael Apthorp Liturgy: US bishop sets out clear guidelines on celebrations of the Mass - AD2000 REPORT Television: EWTN: now affordable and accessible in Australia - Moira Kirkwood Letters: Missal translation - Pat Hurley Letters: Translation hang-up - Fran Swindale Letters: Accuracy needed - Carol V. Phillips Letters: Faith and reason - Peter D. Howard Letters: Narrow - Norm Yodgee Letters: Infallible teaching - Don Ford Letters: Education needed - Judy O'Reilly Letters: Early baptism - John Schmid Letters: Declining practice - Gerard J. Keane Letters: Chavagnes College scholarship applications - Ferdi McDermott Letters: Conversion by violence - Gregory F.J. O'Regan Letters: Generation 'Y' - Kevin Cains Letters: Common sense and married clergy - Errol Duke Letters: Poem's author - Valerie J.Staunton Letters: Anonymity - Michael Apthorp Letters: EWTN by broadband - Bren Scheiner Poetry: Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954 to 2005, by Bruce Dawe - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: St John Bosco, St Dominic and the Rosary, St Thérèe of Lisieux - Siobhan B. Reeves (reviewer) DVD: A Family Retreat, by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen - Daniel Tobin (reviewer) Events: The teachings of the Catholic Church: an exploration Events: Second Annual Victorian Catholic Students Association Conference 25-26 Nov 2006 Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Catholic schools must proclaim the total love of Christ - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM

In the September letters sections a reader took exception to John Young's article, ‘The importance of early baptism’. I also found it disconcerting.

Mr Young stresses the view that unbaptised babies and adults don't go heaven. I find him too emphatic and narrow.

Good exegesis in the study of sacred Scripture is accepted by Catholic theology; Church doctrine is no less in need of sound critical analysis in order to avoid the narrowness I find in Mr Young's views. Repeating doctrines and catechism extracts in their barest formulations is not the way to present the truth with due regard for its splendour.

The idea of limbo has always been a problem. I think it's symptomatic of a larger problem: why would God exclude his children from heaven through no fault of their own and so prevent them from achieving the ultimate purpose He Himself bestowed on their existence?

Most people die without being baptised. A divine plan that bars those of them from heaven who are without personal fault is one that strains belief.

NORM YODGEE
Warrnambool, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 19 No 10 (November 2006), p. 13